126 "ENDEAVOUE" SCIENTIFIC EESULTS. 



digitiform terminal). Such a section, in general, shows one or 

 two main or oscular canals cut longitudinally, and a spicular 

 skeleton which is, for the most part, of a diffuse type, without 

 any definite aggregation of spicules into fibres. It is traversed, 

 however, by a few broad "columns" of rather closely packed 

 parallel spicules, somewhat resembling the "axial condensa- 

 tions" of certain Axinellids. Some of these run longitudinally, 

 whilst others are cut transversely. Another feature, perhaps 

 deserving of note, is the occurrence of numerous longitudinal 

 pale brownish-coloured streaks, the appearance of which is 

 somewhat suggestive of spongin. These streaks are absent 

 from the columnar spicule-tracts. 



Megascleres. — The megascleres are straight cylindrical tylo- 

 styli of a single kind, with strongylote distal extremity ; size, 

 400-440 X 4-S j(. 



'Microscleres. — The spirasters are fairly straight spicules, 

 provided with twenty to thirty large spines, which are about 

 7 /( in length. They are plentifully scattered through the 

 tissues, and form a dense superficial layer 100 to 200 ]i in 

 thickness ; the size of the largest is about 40 x 7 ]i. 



hoc. — East coast of Queensland, twenty-five miles south- 

 east of Double Island Point, 33 fms. ("Endeavour.") 



Sfirastreli.a papillosa, Ridley atid Detidy. 

 1887. Spirastrella papillosa, Ridley and Dendy, "Challenger" 

 iMonaxonida, 1887, p. 23J, pi. xli., fig. 5, pi. xlv., figs. 

 II, I la. 



The Museum collection contains six speciments of this 

 species. They vary considerably in shape, but are always 

 provided with several large apically situated oscula, and in 

 other respects agree exactly with the description of the type, 

 except that they do not show any sign of "deep longitudinal 

 wrinkles" near the apex. The warty appearance of the sur- 

 face appears to be a constant character. 



Locs. — Shoalhaven Bight, New South Wales, 15-45 fms. 

 ("Endea\our") ; Port Jackson, New South Wales, 30-35 fms. 

 ("Challenger"); Port Jackson, New South Wales, and Port 

 Phillip, X'ictoria (Austr. Mus. Coll.). 



Genus Latrunculia, Bocai^e. 



LaTRUNCULIA CONUI.OSA, Sp. 1WV. 



(Plate xxii., fig. i, and fig. 24.) 



Sponge submassive, sessile, zvith aculeated surface. 

 Consistency and texture dense, somewhat ruhbey-like. 

 No oscula. Surface glabrous, dotted with minute pore- 

 groups. Main skeleton a reiicnlation of strongly- 



